Pulp-grinding machine.



S. H. WHITTEN.

PULP GRINDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 23. 1915 1,182,879. Patented May 9,1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I- IN V EN TOR.

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S. H. WHITTEN.

PULP GRINDING MACHINE. APPLICATION man Nov.2s. 1915.

1,182,879, Patented May 9,1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

JZZ v 2 1,182,879. Patented May 9,1916.

8, H. WHITTEN. PULP GRINDING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 23. 1915.

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J'r'c wen-Far rm: coLUMBu PLANOGRAPH c0., WASHINGTON. n. c.

SUMNER H. XVI-IITTEN, OF HOLYOKE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR T0 HOLYOKE MACHINE COMPANY, OF HOLYOKE,

MASSACHUSETTS.

MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF PULP-GRINDING MACHINE.

Application filed November 23, 1915.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, SUMNER H. THITTEN, a citizen of the United States of America, residing in the city of Holyoke, county of Hampden, and State of h iassachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pulp-Grinding Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in machines for producing or grinding pulp from blocks of wood. In a machine of this kind, blocks of wood of suitable size are placed within a receiving chamber where they are forced by pressure against a rapidly revolving grinding stone which is kept constantly wet with running water. Heretofore, in machines of this kind the attendant is obliged to watch the operations of th\ machines very closely in order to determine when the blocks of wood that are being reduced to a pulp are all ground and the ma chines require refilling. Very often the machines are not operated to their full capacity for this very reason for lack of proper attention. In order to overcome this objection the present invention makes use of a suitable signal device to attract the operators attention. Also, in these machines, as now constructed, the attendant is obliged to manually close the doors to the block re ceiving chambers, and, very often this operation results in painful injuries.

My present invention, therefore, relates to improvements in this class of machines for overcoming these defects.

The improvements relate, first, todevices for automatically closing the door to the block receiving chamber; second, to devices for automatically opening said door at the termination of the grinding or reduction of a block to pulp; third, to devices for automatically positioning a signal device for the purpose of notifying the attendant that the machine should be again supplied with blocks to be ground.

Further objects and-nature of the invention will appear in the body of the specification and are particularly pointed out in the accompanying claims.

Referring to the drawings: Figure 1 is a general end elevation view of a pulp grinding machine with the signal indicating devices in the position they occupy when the doors to the block receiving chambers are closed; Fig. 2 is a general. end elevation view Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 9, 1916.

Serial No. 63,045.

of the opposite end of the machine and illustrating the main valve operating mechanism; Fig. 3 is an enlarged view showing the signal elevated after the door has been opened, the signal being located on the opposite side of the machine, and, also showing the main valve mechanism; Fig. l is a vertical sectional view through the aXis of the piston and on a plane passing through the axis of the main shaft, illustrating the main valve, and the devices for operating the door and signal; Fig. 5 is a view looking from the opposite side of Fig. 3, showing the door broken away and the operating devices for the pilot valve; Fig. 6 is a general external view showing the rack and sector construction connecting means for controlling the main valve from the operating cylinder; Fig. 7 is an enlarged sectional view of the interior construction of the operating devices which control the movements of the follower, the door closing and opening mechanism, and the trip mechanism which is operated from the follower, and Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 5 on an enlarged scale.

Referring to the drawings in detail: 1 designates the main shaft mounted in the bearing blocks 2; 3, the grinding stone or element that is located in the inclosing casing Above the stone 3 is the block receiving chamber 4 in which is located the usual follower 5 for forcing the blocks of wood downward against the stone 3. Connected to the follower 5, by means of the piston rod 6, is a piston 7 and extending upward from this piston is a second piston rod 8 that is confined within the casing 9. The parts just referred to comprise, in general, the usual construction of a wood pulp grinding machine.

Referring now to the specific improvements relating to my invention: 10 designates a main valve, the inlet port for the water pressure of which is shown at 11 and the two waste discharge pipes at 11 and 11 The two cored-out passageways 12 and 13 extend from the main valve 10 to the opposite ends of the cylinder 14. within which the driving piston 7 is located. In order to operate the main valve 10 a toothed sector 15 is attached to the valve stem, or spindle 16. This sector meshes with a slidable rack 17 that is connected to the piston 18 which is located within the small cylinder 19.

2O designates what may be termed a pilot valve provided with an operating handle 21, if desired, that is connected to the rod 22 which extends to the opposite side of the machine and which operates the plug of this valve. The inlet pipe is connected at 23 to a source of water supply under pressure. Extending from this valve are two pipes 24 and 25 that lead to the opposite ends of the small cylinder 19.

26 designates the discharge pipe of the plug or pilot valve which discharges its water into the grinding chamber 4 in which the blocks are placed, although this arrangement is not, of course, necessary.

The sliding door which closes the entrance to the block receiving chamber 4 is indicated at 27. This door is connected to the piston 28 within the cylinder 29 by means of the piston rod 30 and is automatically operated by the water exerting pressure on the opposite sides of the piston 28 within the cylinder 29. The opposite ends of the cylinder 29 are in direct communication with the opposite ends of the cylinder 14 by means of the pipes 31 and 32, whereby when water under pressure enters either end of the cylinder 14 the piston 28 will be operated by the pressure on that side of the same.

As a means for automatically controlling the flow of water into and from the cylinder 29, a rod '33 is directly connected to the fol lower plate 5 which is located within the block-receiving chamber 4. This rod is loosely guided in its movements by means of the cleat 34 which is attached to the cylinder 14. An adjustable trip-piece 35 is carried by the rod 33, the purpose of which is to automatically operate the valve rod 22 by engaging the projection 36 thereon when the follower plate 5 reaches the inward end of its travel and thus cause the water to flow to the opposite end of the cylinder 19, thereby operating the main valve 10 and permitting the water to flow to the opposite, or lower end, of the cylinder 14, whereby the pistons 7 and 28 will be driven outward to the position shown in Figs. 4 and 7. At the same time the door 27 is moved outward into the open position shown in this figure. In order to give visual notice for attracting the operators attention and to inform him whether or not the machine requires attention or refilling, a signal rod '37 is attached to the door 27, the extreme outer end of which carries a disk-shaped signal piece 38, which may be painted any color desired for readily attracting attention.

The operation of my improvement for automatically opening and closing the door to the block-receiving chamber 4; for placing the signal piece in position to indicate that the machine needs refilling with the blocks of wood; and for automatically controlling the fluid pressure to effect these operations may be briefly described as follows: Considering the door 27 in the open or outward position as shown in Figs. 4, 5, 7, and 8, ready for the insertion of a block or blocks of wood that are to be reduced by the grinding process to pulp. The attendant operator, after the insertion of the block or blocks of wood, then operates the pilot valve or plug 20 by means of the handle 21. This operation permits water, underpressure, to flow from the source of supply through the pipe 23 to the pilot valve 20, then through the pip-e 25 to the lower end of the small cylinder 19, causing the piston 18 to be elevated, or moved outward, the water above the piston 18, meanwhile escaping by the pipe 24 to the discharge pipe 26 into the chamber 4 (see Fig. 7). The rack 17 and sector 15 are now moved to an elevated position, thus opening the main valve 10, permitting water under pressure to flow by means of the entrance pipe 11 through the passageway 13 above the piston 7, the water below this piston meanwhile. escaping through the passageway 12 to the exhaust pipe 11 as the piston 7 is moved inward during the grinding process. At the same time water under pressure flows through the pipe 31 to the upper end of the cylinder 29 and exerts pressure on the piston 28. This piston is now moved downward carrying with it the door 27 to its inward or closed position; at'the same time water from the lower side of the piston 28 flows through the pipe 32 to the lower end of the cylinder 14 where it escapes through the passageway 12, already referred to. Meanwhile, the signal piece 38 is moved by the door 27 inward to its lowest position, as indicated in Fig. 1, in which position it remains until all of the blocks of wood have been reduced to a pulp. When the follower piece 5 reaches its inward position, the trip-piece 35 on the rod 33 engages the projection 36 on the rod 22 which operates the pilot valve 20 and the operations just described are now reversed. Water under pressure now flows from the pipe 23, through the valve 20, pipe 24, above the piston18, causing the same to be forced inward, the water below the same escaping by the pipe 25' to the discharge pipe 26, meanwhile the main valve 10 is operated, permitting water under pressure to flow through the pipe 11, through the passageway 12 to the lower side of the piston 7 and elevating or moving the same outward to the position shown in Figs. 4 and 7, the waste water above the piston 7 escaping through the passageway 13 to the waste pipe 11 At the same time water under pressure flows through the pipe 32 to the lower side of the piston 28, causing the door 27 to be moved outward or opened ready for the insertion of another block of wood, and, the signal piece 38 to be elevated, as shown in Figs. 3,

5, 6, and 8, to give visual notice to the attendant that the machine is ready for a fresh supply of blocks to be ground, the wa ter above the piston 28 meanwhile escaping through the pipe 31 and passageway 13 to the discharge pipe 11. The operator, after the insertion of the blocks, again operates the handle 21 and the operation described is repeated.

It will be seen from the above description that I have provided improved devices in pulp grinding machines for automatically carrying out the operations that are usually manually performed.

It is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise arrangement of the parts shown herein, as many obvious changes and modifications may be employed for car rying out the principles of the invention, by making use of equivalent devices.

What I claim is:

1. In a wood-pulp grinding machine, the combination with the grinding element thereof, a follower, a piston connected thereto, a pilot valve, a door for closingv the entrance to the grinding chamber, and means for automatically controlling the pilot valve and the movements of the follower, piston, and door for causing the same to move from an inward to an outward position.

2. A wood-pulp grinding machine, comprising a block receiving chamber, a follower therein,- a main valve for controlling the flow of fluid pressure for operating the follower in opposite directions, a pilot valve, a main valve-operating mechanism, connections from the pilot-valve to said valve operating mechanism, a door for closing said chamber, a cylinder, a piston therein and connected to the door, pipe connections for alternately conducting fluid under pressure to the opposite ends of the cylinder, and means operated by the follower for controlling the pilot valve and the main valve operating mechanism.

3. In a machine of the kind described, a block-receiving chamber, a follower in the chamber, a door for closing the chamber, automatic devices for operating the door to the block-receiving chamber, comprising a main valve, a cylinder, a piston therein connected to the follower, a pilot valve for controlling the main-valve, a cylinder, a piston therein connected to the door, and pipe connections between the cylinders, whereby when the main valve is operated the door will be automatically controlled.

i. In a machine of the kind described, the combination with the follower and its piston for forcing the block: to be ground against the grinding stone, a main valve for controlling the flow of water to the opposite ends of the cylinder containing said piston, a cylinder, a piston therein for operating the main valve, a pilot valve for controlling the operations of the last mentioned piston, the main valve serving to control the flow of fluid pressure for automatically operating the door to the block receiving chamber, a signal device carried by the door to indicate its position, and means for automatically controlling the pilot valve from the follower to cause the door to open automatically when the follower has reached the inward end of its travel.

5. In a wood pulp grinding machine, the combination with the follower operating piston and door to the block receiving chamber, of means for automatically controlling the flow of fluid under pressure to the piston, said means including a pilot valve, a rod carried by the follower, a trip-catch thereon for operating the pilot valve, and

means for automatically controlling the movements of the door by the pilot valve to cause said door to move into an open position when the follower has reached the in ner end of its travel, as described.

6. In a wood-pulp grinding machine, the combination with the follower, its operating piston and door to the block-receiving chamber, of a main valve for directing the flow of fluid under pressure to the follower operating piston, a cylinder, a piston thereon connected to the main valve for operating the same, a pilot valve, pipe connections therefrom to the last mentioned cylinder, a lever for manually operating the pilot-valve for initially controlling the follower, a cylinder, a piston therein connected to the door, pipe connections leading from the opposite ends of the cylinder in which the follower operating piston is located to said last men tioned cylinder for conveying fluid under pressure to automatically move the door in the same direction as the follower operating piston. and means operated by the follower for automatically causing the follower operating piston and door to return to their first positions, as described.

7 In a grinding machine of the kind described, a block-receiving chamber, a follower in the chamber, a door for closing the chamber, means for moving the follower and door to the chamber downward, means for automatically returning the follower and door to their initial positions, and means carried by the door for visually indicating its position.

8. In a grinding machine of the kind described, manually operated devices for causing the follower to move in an inward direction, automatically operated devices for causing the follower to move in an outward direction to its initial position after first reaching the limit of its inward travel, and means carried by the door for visually indicating the position of the follower.

9. An automatically operated wood-pulp grinding machine, comprising in combination with the follower, its operating piston, and door to the block receiving chamber, two cylinders. one cylinder being for automatically controlling the flow of liquid under pressure for operating said piston, and the other cylinder being for automatically controlling the operation of the door, and means controlled by the follower for automatically causing the follower operating piston and door to be returned to their initial position, and a signal device carried by the door for indicating its position to the attendant.

10. A wood-pulp grinding machine havin combination, with the follower, its operating piston, and door to the block receiving chamber, a main valve for controlling the movements of the follower operating piston, a piston' for operating the main valve, a pilot valve for operating the last mentioned piston, and means operated by the follower for causing the follower operating piston and the door to automatically return to their initial position, as described.

11. The combination with the follower, its operating piston and door to the block receiving chamber of a wood pulp grinding machine, of a cylinder, a piston therein connected to the door, pipe connections from the opposite sides of the follower operating piston to the opposite ends of the cylinder for causing the door to move in the same direction as the follower and its operating piston, and means operated by the follower for automatically arresting the movements of the follower and its operating piston at the end of their return movements, as described.

SUMNER H. VVHITTEN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

